Katherine Garbera - One Hot Christmas

Molly arrived early for lunch in the big dining room. She sat down with Sarah and Pete, who were the only two at their table so far. Ben moved on past, as if heading for a spot on the other side of the room.

But Pete called out to him, and he turned back. “Come and sit with us,” Pete said. “I had some more thoughts on your potential breeding program. You might be interested in one of our mares, as well.”

Ben sat down next to Pete, across the table from Molly. “Don’t know if I can afford that, yet.”

“Maybe we could work out a deal. Time payments, or first look at the foal. There are all sorts of creative ways to do it. Jack and I talked and we want to help in any way we can.”

Ben nodded. “That’s good to know. Where is Jack, anyway?”

“Josie had an emergency at the bar. A pipe broke, so he’s helping her handle it.”

“I’ve heard of that bar.” Ben picked up his sandwich. “Supposed to be haunted, right?”

“Yes.” Sarah laughed. “That’s why Josie renamed it the Spirits and Spurs. Some claim my late father-in-law is one of the ghosts who makes an appearance from time to time. He used to stop in for a beer whenever Nelsie went into town to shop.”

“Archie’s supposed to be one of the ghosts?” This was the first Molly had heard of it. “That needs to go into my notes. I have this feeling I’m missing all kinds of things that will just come out in casual conversation if I hang around long enough.”

“That’s true.” Sarah sent her a fond glance. “You need to come back. You have summers off, right?”

“Sort of. I usually teach one session of summer school.” She felt Ben’s gaze on her. If she returned this summer, they could pick up where they left off. He’d be in Sheridan, which wasn’t that far away, and in summer the drive would be easy. They wouldn’t have to say goodbye forever.

“Then think about flying back up here,” Pete said. “We’ve loved having you. You fit right in.”

“Thank you. That sounds great.” But she wasn’t so sure it was a good idea. This time with Ben was short and sweet. When they parted, they’d make a clean break. If she came back, though, the relationship automatically became more complicated.

“Good.” Pete seemed satisfied the issue was settled. He turned back to Ben. “You’ll need to figure out where you’re going to put these horses. Do you have some ideas about that?”

As the meal continued, Ben described his plans for buying a small spread on the outskirts of Sheridan, and Pete offered enthusiastic advice. The two of them seemed to have bonded. Nick and Gabe joined them, and soon the four men were deeply involved in a subject they all held dear.

Sarah glanced over at Molly and lowered her voice. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” She smiled to add emphasis to the statement.

Sarah leaned closer. “I hope you didn’t have a disagreement with Ben.”

“Heavens, no.” Molly tried to control the heat in her cheeks but knew it was no use.

“You did, didn’t you?” Sarah spoke in an undertone. “I thought you were getting along great last night, but you’ve avoided each other all morning. Was he rude to you?”

“No, Aunt Sarah. Everything’s fine.”

“Because I don’t care if Pete likes him. If he’s not nice to you, then he can take a long walk off a short—”

“Really, it’s fine .”

Sarah turned in her chair and skewered Molly with a look. “You’re sure about that?”

Molly gulped. “Yes.”

“All right.” Sarah leaned even closer. “But since he’s right down the hall from you, if there’s any reason for concern, you let me know immediately. Is that clear?”

“Yes.” But as she looked into Sarah’s blue eyes, Molly didn’t kid herself that she was fooling her aunt. Sarah knew that something was going on. She just didn’t know for sure what it was.

But with the big party only three hours away, now was not the time to confess everything. No one had discovered the liaison with Ben yet.

Sarah nodded. “Good. Glad that’s settled.” She resumed her normal tone of voice. “I’m worried that we don’t have enough wineglasses for tonight. We’ve lost more to breakage than I thought. I’m thinking of ditching the stemmed glasses completely and going with whiskey glasses for the wine. We have a ton of those. What do you think?”

“I think it’s very European.” Over Sarah’s shoulder, Molly caught Ben looking straight at her. One of the hands had come by to talk with Pete, temporarily interrupting the men’s conversation.

Ben took the opportunity to wink at her. Then the ranch hand left and Ben returned to the topic of breeding horses. But that wink had undone her. He’d chosen the perfect moment to send her a covert message, a secret communication to remind her of their connection.

Molly had been looking forward to Sarah’s party ever since she’d made plane reservations. She’d created a special photo album of all the Gallagher relatives, and each of them had written a birthday greeting next to their picture. Molly could hardly wait to present that to her aunt tonight, and now she was eager to see Sarah’s reaction to the magnificent saddle.

And yet, her thoughts had already moved beyond the party to the moment when the guests had left and she could climb the stairs. She pictured slipping into her room and taking off her clothes. Unfortunately her bathrobe was fleece and had moose pictures on it, but that couldn’t be helped.

“I just don’t want the kids to think that the wine is their favorite cherry drink and guzzle it by mistake. I sometimes let them have the cherry drink in a whiskey glass, so help me keep an eye on them, okay?”

“I will.” Molly did her best to concentrate on the conversation. “One sip and they’ll spit it out. I’ve never known a kid who thought wine tasted good.”

“Oh, I know one. Sarah Bianca took my glass when I wasn’t looking the other night. When I asked if she’d tasted my wine, she assured me that she had, but it was okay because we had the same germs.”

Molly laughed. “Sounds like her.”

“So then I asked her opinion of the wine. She said it was yummy. I explained that it was for grownups, but I’m not convinced that she won’t try it again.”

“Then I’ll keep close track of her.” Sarah Bianca, SB for short, was Morgan and Gabe’s oldest. During the cookie decorating session, the little redhead had informed Molly that she was not four, but four and a half , thank you very much. She thought her Grandma Sarah had hung the moon, and if her beloved grandmother loved red wine, so would SB.

Nick and Gabe said their goodbyes and left the table. Soon afterward, Pete and Ben pushed back their chairs and Pete glanced at his wife. “Unless you need me for something, Ben and I thought we’d head down to the barn and take another look at Calamity Sam, maybe turn him out so Ben can see him run.”

“I think we’re in pretty good shape.” Sarah smiled at him. “I have a few more things to check on in the kitchen, but as far as I’m concerned, the work’s done. We’re ready for the party.”

“Excellent.” He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “See you soon.”

“Bye.” Sarah gazed after the two men as they left the dining room. “You know, when Pete and Jack first told me a horse buyer was coming, I was so wrapped up in the preparations for the party and Christmas that I didn’t think much about it.” She turned back to Molly. “But don’t you think his timing is a bit strange?”

“I guess it worked with his schedule.” Molly hoped her expression gave nothing away.

Sarah gazed at her with a knowing smile. “That’s BS.”

“It is?”